New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. | 1That day Jesus left the house and sat down beside the sea. |
2A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. | 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the entire crowd stood on the shore. |
3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. | 3Then he began to tell them many things in parables. He said, "Listen! A farmer went out to sow. |
4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. | 4As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. |
5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. | 5Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasn't deep. |
6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. | 6But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up. |
7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. | 7Other seeds fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew higher and choked them out. |
8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! | 8But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. |
9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” | 9Let the person who has ears listen!" |
10His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” | 10Then the disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do you speak to people in parables?" |
11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. | 11He answered them, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom from heaven, but it hasn't been given to them, |
12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. | 12because to anyone who has something, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who doesn't have anything, even what he has will be taken away from him. |
13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. | 13That's why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but don't see, and they listen but don't hear or understand.' |
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. | 14"With them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says: 'You will listen and listen but never understand. You will look and look but never comprehend, |
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ | 15for this people's heart has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' |
16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. | 16"How blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear! |
17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. | 17I tell all of you with certainty, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but did not see them, and to hear the things you hear but did not hear them." |
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: | 18"Listen, then, to the parable about the farmer. |
19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. | 19When anyone hears the word about the kingdom yet doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. |
20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. | 20As for what was sown on the stony ground, this is the person who hears the word and accepts it joyfully at once, |
21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. | 21but since he doesn't have any root in himself, he lasts for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls away. |
22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. | 22As for what was sown among the thorn bushes, this is the person who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of wealth choke the word so that it can't produce a crop. |
23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Parable of the Wheat and Weeds | 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and produces a crop that yields 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown." |
24Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. | 24He presented another parable to them: "The kingdom from heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. |
25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. | 25While people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. |
26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. | 26When the crop came up and bore grain, the weeds appeared, too. |
27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ | 27"The owner's servants came and asked him, 'Master, you sowed good seed in your field, didn't you? Then where did these weeds come from?' |
28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. | 28"He told them, 'An enemy did this!' "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them out?' |
29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. | 29"He said, 'No! If you pull out the weeds, you might pull out the wheat with them. |
30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” Parable of the Mustard Seed | 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles for burning, but bring the wheat into my barn."'" |
31Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. | 31He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom from heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. |
32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Parable of the Yeast | 32Although it is the smallest of all seeds, when it is fully grown it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, and the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches." |
33Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” | 33He told them another parable: "The kingdom from heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." |
34Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. | 34Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. |
35This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world. ” Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained | 35This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet when he said, "I will open my mouth to speak in parables. I will declare what has been hidden since the creation of the world." |
36Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” | 36Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and asked, "Explain to us the parable about the weeds in the field." |
37Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. | 37He answered, "The person who sowed good seed is the Son of Man, |
38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. | 38while the field is the world. The good seed are those who belong to the kingdom, while the weeds are those who belong to the evil one. |
39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. | 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. |
40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. | 40Just as weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at end of the age. |
41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. | 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes others to sin and those who practice lawlessness |
42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | 42and they will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. |
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl | 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!" |
44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. | 44"The kingdom from heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found and hid. In his excitement he went and sold everything he had and bought that field." |
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. | 45"Again, the kingdom from heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. |
46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Parable of the Fishing Net | 46When he found a very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it." |
47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. | 47"Again, the kingdom from heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea that gathered all kinds of fish. |
48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. | 48When it was full, the fishermen hauled it ashore. Then they sat down, sorted the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away. |
49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, | 49That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, cull out the evil people from among the righteous ones, |
50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | 50and will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." |
51 Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.” | 51"Do you understand all these things?" They told him, "Yes." |
52Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.” Jesus Rejected at Nazareth | 52Then he told them, "That is why every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom from heaven is like the master of a household who brings both new and old things out of his treasure chest." |
53When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. | 53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place. |
54He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” | 54He went to his hometown and began teaching the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were amazed and asked, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles? |
55Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. | 55This is the builder's son, isn't it? His mother is named Mary, isn't she? His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, aren't they? |
56All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” | 56And his sisters are all with us, aren't they? So where did this man get all these things?" |
57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” | 57And they were offended by him. But Jesus told them, "A prophet is without honor only in his hometown and in his own home." |
58And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. | 58He did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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